6 Tips To Nail Your Liberal Arts Application

The term liberal arts has been derived from the Latin term “liberalis”, meaning “ free” and arts i.e. “a practice of a principle’. Students these days are seen as more willing to explore different subjects and try out various interests rather than sticking to one subject for their entire lives. As we see a shift in the generational narrative of education, people today want to explore, have choices, and don’t want to simply settle in for the seemingly “safe” options.

What Are Liberal Arts?

Liberal arts entail various diverse subjects like Philosophy, History, Literature, Theatre, Music, Political Science, Economics, natural sciences like Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and more. As the name suggests, the course takes a multi-disciplinary approach and you get the freedom to carve your own path toward a meaningful and enriching career.

Liberal Arts takes on a journey different from mainstream courses. There is more emphasis on building the essential skill set that one may miss out on honing through conventional education systems that focus more on facts and textbook learning. This bridges the gap in learning and gives you an edge over your peers in career endeavors.

The coursework is intense and takes a deep dive into your worldview, and would teach you not ‘what’ to think but ‘how’ to think. The colleges that offer liberal arts by the term have a freeing campus environment, multicultural and diverse population, active classroom discussions, group work, and thorough grooming.

Liberal Arts Takes On A Journey Different From Mainstream Courses

Who Is It For?

Liberal Arts courses can be a good fit for those who want to explore their skill set, do not have a rigid, fixed goal in mind, but are driven by the desire to create something, bring a change, and leave an impact.

Developing Life Skills

The course provides the freedom to choose their interests in a true ‘liberal’ sense, and improve on essential mental and life skills such as critical and analytical thinking, reasoning, perspective taking, leadership and group dynamics, and problem-solving. These skills help you prepare better for the challenges of life, equip you with the ability to handle tough situations, and lead by example. You could study Psychology or Public Policy and also specialise in Economics, or study Leadership with Business Analytics, which could open doors wide to various well-paying yet unconventional job roles.

Drive To Know “Why”

If you possess the drive to know the ‘why’, the excitement of meeting different people, carefully observing the nuances of life, the willingness to focus on self as well as community betterment, and do not shy away from exploring and working at the grass root levels, liberal arts might just be the right fit for you!

Nailing Your Applications

Some of the premier liberal arts universities in India are Ashoka University, Sonepat; Flame University, Pune; Krea University, Andhra Pradesh, amongst others. But, how should you go about preparing for your applications to the premier liberal arts universities? Here are a few tips.

Know Why You Are Applying

To begin with, first and foremost is to ask yourself- “Why liberal arts?” Or in conventional terms, we may call it a ‘Statement of Purpose’. In order to write a great application, it is beneficial to know what drew your attention to this programme, have a vision about the course, your goals, what you are passionate about, and what inspired you.

Gather Non-Academic Endeavours

Given the nature of the course, which is driven by experiential learning, it is essential to go beyond academics and gain real-life experience either through internships in your interest areas, volunteering for any cause, or having any kind of social or community-level engagement. It should probably be a stint where you may come across various challenges and overcome them. This would not only strengthen your application but also enhance your leadership and team-building skills, which are the key to a promising liberal arts student.

Develop Soft Skills

It is time to ‘sharpen’ some ‘soft’ skills. The backbone of the coursework is to possess various skills like openness to varying perspectives, subjectivity, curiosity about ideas, critical thinking, empathy, in-depth reasoning, etc. You would be meeting fellow students from different age groups, belonging to diverse cultural backgrounds and socio-economic status, ethnicity, genders, etc., bringing a plethora of experiences to the table. To be able to have fruitful classroom discussions, these are skills a potential liberal arts student is expected to have and portray in the selection process.

Gather Recommendation Letters

An essential cherry on the cake is to gather recommendations from your previous institution, workplace, mentor/s, supervisors or managers. When they put in some good words for you, it puts a stamp on your past experiences and can take your application a few steps ahead.

Attend Pre-Application Webinars

It is natural to have questions and doubts in mind while applying for a liberal arts course. Colleges and universities that offer liberal arts courses often conduct free webinars and programmes before the beginning of the application process to explain what the coursework would entail, and how the application process looks, and have rounds of questions and answers to help you clarify your doubts. So, go ahead, hunt down their websites and follow their social media handles to keep a track of such events.

Network

The old and effective way of seeking guidance while you apply for a course in a college is to reach out to a senior, its alumni or someone who is working in that particular field. You can find out about the place, course, campus life, and faculty from insiders, or those who have been so. Most of the colleges offering these courses have a strong alumni network and an active community. Best to begin your search, look within your circle, search through online networking portals, and get in touch with someone for more authentic, first-hand information.

Networking Is Important For Nailing Your College Applications

No Rule Book, Stay Balanced

The tips we just shared intend to help you get started with the application process. It is essential to know that the list is non-exhaustive and completely depends on how you wish to create and present your candidature. There is no rule book that one can follow for guaranteed selection. It is important to keep in mind to not overwhelm or underwhelm your application. The key is to strike a balance by having adequate substance, depth and intention, and not putting so much pressure to appear “good’’ on paper.

Stay Honest And Authentic

This is not your mainstream selection process. Even if you’re not too sure about what your future goals are, this course is more about exploring. Do know that the application and interview should reflect your honesty and authenticity more than your vision. Goals can take shape over a period of time as one explores, but it’s your honest intention and efforts towards your growth that matter.

Sanskriti Khera is a Counselling Psychologist, with five years of hands-on experience in helping young adults navigate through social and emotional concerns. Her approach to counselling is person-centered, trauma-informed, and insight-oriented. She was formerly Counsellor at the Ashoka Centre For Well-Being, Ashoka University, Sonepat. Currently, Sanskriti is Consultant with Daffodils Therapy Studio, New Delhi.